Fall restraint equipment components and method for manufacturing the same
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for manufacturing a rail, wherein the rail comprises an outer rail, the method comprising:
- providing a first continuous piece of tubular metal configured to be the outer rail, the first continuous piece of tubular metal having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a first connecting portion configured to attach the first continuous piece of tubular metal to a platform structure, the second end comprising a second connecting portion configured to attach the first continuous piece of tubular metal to the platform structure, the platform structure being configured to allow a person to walk or stand thereon;
cutting out a first portion of the first continuous piece of tubular metal to define a left indentation between a left portion and a middle portion of the first continuous piece of metal;
cutting out a second portion of the first continuous piece of metal to define a right indentation between the middle portion and a right portion of the first continuous piece of tubular metal, wherein the left and right indentions are the only indentations in the first continuous piece of tubular metal;
folding the left portion with respect to the middle portion at the left indentation;
folding the right portion with respect to the middle portion at the right indentation;
attaching the first connecting portion to the platform structure at a first location so that the left portion is attached to the platform structure; and
attaching the second connecting portion to the platform structure at a second location so that the right portion is attached to the platform structure, wherein the first location is separate from the second location.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A handrail or a swing gate for fall restraint equipment comprising an outer rail constructed from a single, continuous piece of tubular metal, a midrail constructed from a single, continuous piece of tubular metal, and a toeboard constructed from a single, continuous piece of sheet metal, where the outer rail is constructed to receive portions of the midrail and toeboard for an integral construction.
52 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A method for manufacturing a rail, wherein the rail comprises an outer rail, the method comprising:
-
providing a first continuous piece of tubular metal configured to be the outer rail, the first continuous piece of tubular metal having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising a first connecting portion configured to attach the first continuous piece of tubular metal to a platform structure, the second end comprising a second connecting portion configured to attach the first continuous piece of tubular metal to the platform structure, the platform structure being configured to allow a person to walk or stand thereon; cutting out a first portion of the first continuous piece of tubular metal to define a left indentation between a left portion and a middle portion of the first continuous piece of metal; cutting out a second portion of the first continuous piece of metal to define a right indentation between the middle portion and a right portion of the first continuous piece of tubular metal, wherein the left and right indentions are the only indentations in the first continuous piece of tubular metal; folding the left portion with respect to the middle portion at the left indentation; folding the right portion with respect to the middle portion at the right indentation; attaching the first connecting portion to the platform structure at a first location so that the left portion is attached to the platform structure; and attaching the second connecting portion to the platform structure at a second location so that the right portion is attached to the platform structure, wherein the first location is separate from the second location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
4. The method of 3, further comprising:
-
cutting the first continuous piece of tubular metal to define a pair of apertures in the outer rail, wherein the step of connecting the midrail to the outer rail comprises inserting each end of the midrail into each respective aperture defined by the outer rail. - View Dependent Claims (5)
-
-
13. A handrail comprising:
-
a top horizontal portion; a left vertical portion connected to a left end of the top horizontal portion, the left vertical portion comprises a first end; and a right vertical portion connected to a right end of the top horizontal portion, the right vertical portion comprises a second end, wherein a base portion of each of the left and right vertical portions defines at least one aperture having a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion exhibiting a relatively greater circumference than that of the upper portion so that a fixture comprising a first part and a second part, wherein the second part exhibits a lesser circumference than the upper and lower portions and a first part exhibiting a lesser circumference than the lower portion but greater than the upper portion, may be received by the lower portion but is unable to pass through the upper portion, wherein the first end comprises a first connecting portion configured to attach the left vertical portion of tubular metal to a platform structure, the second end comprising a second connecting portion configured to attach the right vertical portion to the platform structure, the platform structure being configured to allow a person to walk or stand thereon. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification